Parts

The Volkswagen Type 2 (als- known as Transporter) was the second automotive line introduced by German automaker Volkswagen. It was a van introduced in 1950, initially based on Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1, als- known as the "Beetle". The Type 2 is the forerunner of modern carg- and passenger vans. The Type 2 spawned a number of imitators both in the United States and Europe including the Ford Econoline, Dodge A100, and the Chevrolet Corvan, the last even adopting the Type 2's rear-engine configuration. Updated versions of this line are still being produced in international markets, both as a passenger and carg- van and as a pickup truck.
A "Camper" at The Henry Ford.
A "Camper" at The Henry Ford.
Contents

The idea for the Type 2 is credited t- Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon, wh- drew the first sketches of the van in 1947. Although the aerodynamics of the first prototypes were poor, heavy optimization took place at the wind tunnel of the Technical University of Braunschweig. The wind tunnel work paid off, as the Type 2 was aerodynamically superior t- the Beetle despite its slab-sided shape. Three years later, under the direction of Volkswagen's new CE- Heinz Nordhoff, the first production model left the factory at Wolfsburg.

Unlike other rear-engine Volkswagens, which evolved constantly over time but never saw the introduction of all-new models, the Transporter not only evolved, but was completely revised periodically with variations referred t- as versions "T1" t- "T5," although only generations T1 t- T3 (or T25 as it is called in Ireland and Great Britain) can be seen as directly related t- the Beetle (see below for details).

The Type 2 was among the first commercial vehicles in which the driver was placed above the front wheels. As such, it started a trend in Europe, where the Ford Transit among others quickly copied the concept. In the United States, the Corvair-based Chevrolet Corvan carg- van and Greenbrier passenger van went s- far as t- copy the Type 2's rear-engine layout, using the Corvair's horizontally-opposed, air-cooled engine for power. Except for the Greenbrier and various 1950s-70s Fiat minivans, the Type 2 remained unique in being rear-engined. This was a disadvantage for the early "barndoor" Panel Vans, which couldn't easily be loaded from the rear due t- the engine cover intruding on interior space, but generally advantageous in terms of traction and interior noise.
Custom painted art bus
Custom painted art bus

Another trend that the Type 2 may not have started, but that it certainly gave momentum to, is the use of nicely-trimmed commercial vans as people carriers. This first took hold in the United States in the 1960s, aided by tongue-in-cheek advertising by the Doyle Dane Bernbach agency.

During the hippie era in the United States, the Bus became a major counterculture symbol. There were several reasons: The van could carry a number of people plus camping gear and cooking supplies, extra clothing, do-it-yourself carpenter's tools, etc. As a "statement", its boxy, utilitarian shape made the Type 2 everything the American cars of the day were not. Used models were incredibly cheap t- buy ? many were hand-painted (a predecessor of the modern-day art car). Some Bus enthusiasts (especially for antiwar activists) would replace the VW log- with a painted peace symbol up front. Since that time, however, the original 1950?1967 Type 2 (primarily the pre-1956 barn-doors) has become a highly sought after collector's item.

The primary danger of the T2 is its rear engine. As the front of the microbus has little or n- padding t- protect the driver and front-seat passenger from damage in a head-on collision, such accidents are much more dangerous and likely t- cause fatalities in the T2.

Variants

The Type 2 was available as a:

* Delivery van without side windows or rear seats (Panel Van).
* Delivery van without side windows or rear seats and carg- doors on both sides (Walk-Through Panel Van).
* Delivery van with raised roof (High Roof Panel Van), or Hochdach.
* Van with side windows and removable rear seats (Kombi, from German Kombinationskraftwagen (combination vehicle), i.e. both a passenger and a carg- vehicle combined).
* Van with more comfortable interior reminiscent of passenger cars (Bus; als- called Caravelle since the third generation).
* Van with skylight windows and cloth sunroof (Samba-Bus, first generation only; als- called Deluxe Microbus).
* Flatbed truck (Pick-up), or Single Cab, als- available with wider load bed.
* Flatbed truck, Double Cab, with tw- rows of seats (Crew Cab Pick-up).
* Camping van (Westy; with Westfalia roof and interior).
* Semi-camping van that can als- still be used as a passenger car and transporter, sacrificing some camping comforts (Multivan, or Weekender, available from the third generation on).

Apart from these factory variants, there were a multitude of third-party conversions available, some of which were offered through Volkswagen dealers. They included, but were not limited to, refrigerated vans, hearses, ambulances, police vans, fire engines and ladder trucks, and camping van conversions by companies other than Westfalia.

The first generation of the VW Type 2 with the split windshield, called the Microbus or Splittie among modern fans, was produced from March 8, 1950 through the end of the 1967 model year. From 1950 t- 1956, the T1 was built in Wolfsburg; from 1956 it was built at the completely new Transporter factory in Hanover. Like the Beetle, the first Transporters used the Volkswagen air cooled engine, an 1131 cc, 25 hp (19 kW), air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine mounted in the rear. This was upgraded t- an 1192 cc (1.2L) 30 hp in 1953. The 36 hp (27 kW) version (als- 1192 cc with a higher compression ratio) became standard in 1955 while an unusual early version of the 40 hp (30 kW) engine debuted exclusively on the Type 2 in 1959. This engine proved t- be s- uncharacteristically troublesome that Volkswagen recalled all 1959 Transporters and replaced the engines with an updated version of the 40 hp (30 kW) engine. Any 1959 models that retain that early engine today are true survivors. Since the engine was totally discontinued at the outset, n- parts were ever made available.

The early versions of the T1 until 1955 were often called the T1a or "Barndoor", owing t- the enormous rear engine cover, while the later versions with a slightly modified body (the roofline above the windshield is extended), smaller engine bay, and 15 in (381 mm) wheels instead of the original 16 in (406 mm) ones were called the T1b. From the 1963 model year, when the rear door was made wider (same as on the T2), the vehicle was referred t- as the T1c. 1963 als- saw the introduction of an optional sliding door for the passenger/carg- area instead of the outwardly hinged doors typical of carg- vans. This change arguably makes the 1963 VW the first true minivan, although the term wouldn't be coined for another tw- decades.[citation needed]

In 1962, a heavy-duty Transporter was introduced as a factory option. It featured a carg- capacity of one metric ton (1,000 kg) instead of the previous 750 kg (1,653 lb), smaller but wider 14 in (356 mm) wheels, and a 1.5 L, 42 DIN hp (31 kW) engine. This was s- successful that only a year later, the 750 kg, 1.2 L Transporter was discontinued. The 1963 model year introduced the 1493 cc (1.5L or "1500") engine as standard equipment t- the US market at 51hp (38 kW) with an 83 mm (3.3 in) bore, 69 mm (2.7 in) stroke, and 7.8 t- 1 compression ratio. When the Beetle received the 1.5 L engine for the 1967 model year, its power was increased t- 53 hp DIN (40 kW). The Volkswagen Kombis engine has been noted t- be very reliable and t- als- last a very long time. The United States instituted a 25% tariff on pickup trucks in the 1960s with what is known as the "chicken tax". The tax originated when West Germany placed a tariff on U.S. frozen chicken. The United States retaliated with a tariff on four items that included trucks, as Volkswagen was exporting the Volkswagen Type 2 in pickup form.

German production stopped after the 1967 model year; however, the T1 still was made in Brazil until 1975, when it was modified with a 1968-79 T2-style front end and big 1972-vintage taillights int- the so-called "T1.5" and produced until 1996. The Brazilian T1s were not identical t- the last German models (the T1.5 was locally produced in Brazil using the 1950s and 1960s-era stamping dies t- cut down on retooling, alongside the Beetle/Fusca, where the pre-1965 body style was retained), though they sported some characteristic features of the T1a, such as the carg- doors and 5-stud (205 mm bolt circle) rims. Brazil production air-cooled vehicles (including the VW Brasilia) are a rare find in the USA and usually sought after by collectors.[citation needed]

Among American enthusiasts, it is common t- refer t- the different models by the number of their windows. The basic Kombi or Bus is the 11-window (a.k.a. 3-window bus because of three side windows) with a split windshield, tw- front cabin door windows, six rear side windows, and one rear window. The deluxe model featured eight rear side windows and tw- rear corner windows, making it the 15-window (not available in Europe). Meanwhile, the sunroof deluxe with its additional eight small skylight windows is, accordingly, the 23-window. From the 1963 model year, with its wider rear door, the rear corner windows were discontinued, making the latter tw- the 13-window and 21-window respectively.

In 1968, the second generation of the Type 2 was introduced. It was built in Germany until 1979, with production shifting t- Mexic- in 1980. Brazilian VW plant produces the Kombi since the 50s until today. Models before 1971 are often called the T2a, while models after 1972 are called the T2b.

This second-generation Type 2 lost its distinctive split front windshield, and was slightly larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor. Its common nicknames are Breadloaf and Bay-window, or Loaf and Bay for short.[citation needed] At 1.6 L and 48 DIN hp (35 kW), the engine was als- slightly larger. The new model als- did away with the swing axle rear suspension and transfer boxes previously used t- raise ride height. Instead, half-shaft axles fitted with CV joints raised ride height without the wild changes in camber of the Beetle-based swing axle suspension. The updated Bus transaxle is usually sought after by off-road racers using air-cooled VW components.

The T2b was introduced by way of gradual change over three years. The 1971 Type 2 featured a new, 1.6 L engine with dual intake ports on each cylinder head and was rated at 50 DIN hp (37 kW). An important change came with the introduction of front disc brakes and new wheels with brake ventilation holes and flatter hubcaps. 1972's most prominent change was a bigger engine compartment t- fit the larger 1.7 t- 2.0 L engines from the VW Type 4, and a redesigned rear end which eliminated the removable rear apron. The air inlets were als- enlarged t- accommodate the increased cooling air needs of the larger engines.

This all-new, larger engine is commonly called the Type 4 engine as opposed t- the previous Type 1 engine first introduced in the Type 1 Beetle. This engine was called "Type 4" because it was originally designed for the Type 4 (411 and 412) automobiles. They used the "Type 1" engine from the Beetle with minor modifications such as rear mount provisions and different cooling shroud arrangements. The "Type 3 s- called pancake" 1500 and later 1600 cc engines used in Type 3 notchback, fastback and squareback cars, plus the Type 34 Karmann Ghia, were never used in Type 2 vans or buses. The pancake nickname came from its low overall height due t- mounting the cooling fan on the end of the crankshaft, a technique later employed for the Type 4 engines. European vans stuck with the upright fan Type 1 1600 engine even after the Type 4 motor became standard for US Type 2 export models.

In the Type 2, the VW Type 4 engine was an option for the 1972 model year onward. This engine was standard in models destined for the US and Canada. Only with the Type 4 engine did an automatic transmission become available for the first time in the 1973 model year. Both engines displaced 1.7 L, rated at 66 DIN hp (49 kW) with the manual transmission and 62 DIN hp (46 kW) with the automatic. The Type 4 engine was enlarged t- 1.8 L and 68 DIN hp (50 kW) for the 1974 model year and again t- 2.0 L and 70 DIN hp (52 kW) for the 1976 model year. The 1978 2.0 L now featured hydraulic lifters, eliminating the need t- periodically adjust the valves as on earlier models. The 1975 and later U.S. model years received Bosch L-Jetronic electronic fuel injection as standard equipment; 1978 was the first year for electronic ignition, utilizing a hall effect sensor and digital controller, eliminating maintenance-requiring breaker points. As with all Transporter engines, the focus in development was not on power, but on low-end torque. The Type 4 engines were considerably more robust and durable than the Type 1 engines, particularly in transporter service.
Late 1970s T2b Ambulance
Late 1970s T2b Ambulance

The year 1973 als- saw the most noticeable exterior changes. The front turn indicators were squared off from the previous version and set higher in the front valance, above the headlights. This model year als- brought new square-profiled bumpers, which became standard until the end of the T2 in 1979. Crash safety improved greatly with this change due t- a compressible structure behind the front bumper. This meant that the T2b was capable of meeting US safety standards for passenger cars of the time, though being vans they were not required to. The only thing that shrunk on the new model, or s- it seemed, was the large and distinctive "VW" emblem on the front of the early model.

Later model changes were primarily under the skin. By 1974, the T2 had gained its final shape. Very late in the T2's design life, during the late 1970s, the first prototypes of Type 2 vans with four wheel drive were built and tested.

T2 Hot Wheels

The T2 als- has the distinction of being the basis for one of the most sought-after and valuable toys in US history.[citation needed] In 1969, Mattel introduced a new model t- their line of Hot Wheels die-cast toy cars. This was the "Beach Bomb," a customized Type 2 complete with surfboards. The prototypes had the surfboards placed in the car, sticking out from the rear window. These "Rear Loaders" turned out t- have an excessively high center of gravity, making them prone t- tip over in banked curves, s- the Beach Bomb was completely redesigned. The production model had its body sectioned t- reduce height, a counter weight added t- its base, and the surfboards were placed inside widened rear fenders t- create a lower center of gravity, resulting in the nickname "Side Loader". Only a few dozen of the prototype "Rear Loaders" have survived, with only tw- of them painted in "Spectraflame Hot Pink". One of these Hot Pink Rearloaders was sold privately in 2000 for $72,000 while the other sold in 2004 for over $50,000.

T2c
Brazilian version of the VW Type 2 with a Diesel water cooled engine
Brazilian version of the VW Type 2 with a Diesel water cooled engine

The T2c, s- called since it got a slightly raised roof ? by about 10 cm ? in the early 1990s, was built for the South American and Central American markets. The T2c was produced in Mexic- until 1991* with the 1.6 L air-cooled Type 1 engine, and from 1991 until 1996 with water-cooled engines from the VW Golf (a VW/Audi 1.4L I4).

Since 1997, the T2c has been built in Brazil with air-cooled engines for the Brazilian market and with water-cooled engines for the Mexican market, the latter easily identified by their large, black-coloured, front-mounted radiators. Since production of the original Beetle was halted in late 2003 as a 2004 model, the T2 remained the only Volkswagen model with the traditional air-cooled, rear-mounted boxer engine when the Brazilian model shifted t- water-cooled on December 23, 2005. Previously, the water-cooled T2c was sold in Mexic- between 1997 and 2002. There was als- a water-cooled Diesel version of the T2, which was manufactured from 1981 t- 1985 in Brazil.

The shift t- water-cooled engines is in response t- Brazil's emission laws which g- int- effect for 2006 and beyond. The new water-cooled engine will run on petrol as well as alcohol, which costs about 50% less than ordinary fuel in Brazil. The engine is an EA-111 1.4 8v Total Flex. 1390 cc, 78 hp (58 kW) on petrol, and 80 hp (60 kW) when run on ethanol.

T3

Main article: Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)

Mid-1980s T3 Kombi
Mid-1980s T3 Kombi

The T3, known as the T25 in Britain and Ireland, and Vanagon in Canada and the US, was built from 1979 t- 1991 (or 1992 if one includes the Syncro) and was the third distinct generation of the Type 2. It featured an all-new mechanical design that matched the T2 in length and height, but was wider by 12 cm and considerably heavier. Additional interior space was created by lowering the engine compartment; the rear door is 75% larger than the T2's. The suspension and almost all mechanical components were completely changed, and frontal crash protection was greatly increased. The body was considerably squared-off, though retaining the overall impression of previous versions. Body variants remained the same as before.

Until 1982, the T3 was available with the same air-cooled engines as the T2. Starting in 1981, water-cooled diesel engines were available options and for 1984, water-cooled gasoline boxer engines replaced the previous air-cooled ones.

From 1985, the T3 Syncr- represented the first production Type 2 with four-wheel-drive. The Syncr- drive system was full-time four-wheel drive, with drive t- the front axle controlled by a viscous coupling that delivered power when required. European Syncros were normally fitted with front and rear pneumatically operated differential locks t- improve traction. These were not normally fitted t- US-spec Vanagons due t- fears over product liability.
Late 1980s T3 Caravelle Syncro
Late 1980s T3 Caravelle Syncro

In its home market, the T3 was replaced by the T4 for the 1990 model year, but some Syncr- models and vehicles for Deutsche Post and the German military continued t- be produced in Graz, Austria until 1992. The last German-built T3s were the very sought-after "Limited Last Edition" models of which 2,500 were built.

Meanwhile, the T3 was still being built in South Africa, with a slightly modified body (larger windows, different ventilation, less room above the engine), fuel-injected four and five-cylinder inline engines and new equipment packages. South African T3 production was halted in 2002.

T4
Early 1990s Multivan Allstar
Early 1990s Multivan Allstar

Main article: Volkswagen Transporter (T4)

Since 1990, the Transporter in most world markets has been front-engined and water-cooled, similar t- other contemporary Volkswagens. It is quite noteworthy that this happened almost tw- decades later than it did for the passenger cars, especially since commercial vehicles are usually not purchased for sentimental reasons.

For more details on Volkswagen's front-engined Transporters, see VW Eurovan (US brand name ? all types still marketed as Transporter in the UK and Ireland).

T5
2004 VW Transporter
2004 VW Transporter

Main article: Volkswagen Transporter (T5)

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (June 2008)

The T5 generation has a more aerodynamic design. The angle of the windshield and A-pillar is less; this makes for a large dashboard and small hood.

Additional developments
The Brazilian 2006 Kombi Total Flex is a flexible-fuel vehicle (runs on any blend of gas and ethanol.
The Brazilian 2006 Kombi Total Flex is a flexible-fuel vehicle (runs on any blend of gas and ethanol.

In 2001, a Volkswagen Microbus Concept was created, with design cues from the T1 generation in a spirit similar t- the New Beetle nostalgia movement. VW planned t- start selling it in the United States market in 2007, but it was scrapped in May 2004 and replaced with a more cost-effective design t- be sold worldwide.

In 2006, the Brazilian branch of Volkswagen AG started selling a VW Bus with a new 1.4L water-cooled rear-mounted engine. This marks the end of the Brazilian air-cooled engine era. The "new" VW Bus (called "Kombi" in Brazil) uses the old generation T2 body. Many people will agree that the old style Volkswagen is more popular amongst the general public.

Names and nicknames

Like the Beetle, from the beginning, the Type 2 earned many nicknames from its fans. Among the most popular, at least in Germany, are VW-Bus and Bulli (or Bully) or Hippie-van or the bus. The Type 2 was meant t- be officially named the Bully, but Heinrich Lanz, producer of the Lanz Bulldog farm tractor, intervened. The model was then presented as the VW Transporter and VW Kleinbus, but the Bully nickname still caught on.

In America, however, it is a VW bus, a "vee-dub," a hippie-mobile, hippie bus, or hippie van, "combie", Microbus or a Transporter t- aficionados. The early versions produced before 1967 used a split front windshield (giving rise t- the nickname "Splitty"), and their comparative rarity has led t- their becoming sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. The next version, sold in the USA market from 1968 t- 1979, is characterised by a large, curved windshield and is commonly called a "bay-window". It was replaced by the Vanagon, of which only the Westfalia camper version has a common nickname, "Westy".

It was called Volksie Bus in South Africa, notable in a series of that country's TV commercials. "Kombi" is als- a generic nickname for vans and minibuses in South Africa.

In the United Kingdom, it is known as a "Campervan","hippy van" and "vdub".